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It was a peaceful night as the couple walked hand in hand along the path surrounding the pond. Their shoes made gentle tapping sounds against the stone as Mei Lien looked up at the full moon above them.

"The moon is so beautiful and bright tonight." She said, watching the clouds drifting lazily across it. "I feel as if I could reach out and touch it."

A gentle laugh was her mysterious friend's reply. He was leading her towards the bridge where he claimed they would have a better view. "Perhaps, some day you will." He smiled at her with amusement. "If you wish hard enough."

"Don't tease." She smiled back.

It had been a few months since the night she had snuck out of her room to observe sailing stars and had met his unexpected presence standing by the pond in her family's garden. She knew that the garden was only permitted for the respite of those of higher status but he had no business being there at such a late hour and she had never seen him amongst the nobles who visited her father. Her desire to know who he was and what he was doing there had got the better of her wariness so she had approached him and a curious friendship had quickly formed between the two.

At first, she thought he was a servant of the palace since he wore such fine silk robes in beautifully rich colors and his long hair looked well-groomed. The longer she knew him though, made her suspect that he might actually be a member of the royal family. Who else but a royal would carry himself with such a regal air and have such vast knowledge. The thought of having secret meetings with an actual prince made her blush and squeeze his hand a little harder which made him glance down at her momentarily. Did she dare hope that this friendship would lead to something more. What would her sisters say if they knew?

She sighed wistfully. Her brother had always joked that she was a silly romantic at heart.

Sometimes, there would be gaps in his nightly visits, but that made sense since the palace was farther away than her family's mansion and he probably wouldn't be able to sneak out as often as he would like. Sometimes, he would confide in her how stressful his family could be so it didn't surprise her that he would leave the palace at the first opportunity to get a moment's peace and if he left at night he wouldn't be bothered by the public. But she didn't understand why he would travel without a body guard to protect-

A rustling in the bushes nearby startled her out of her thoughts. She could feel his hand tighten in hers as he turned his head sharply towards the sound. She stood nervously beside him as he studied the bushes for any signs of danger. His body tensing in preparation for a fight.

After a few tense moments, a stray cat jumped out of the bushes with a mouse held firmly in its jaws. It looked over at them cautiously then darted away.

Her companion relaxed with a sigh. "It was just a cat." He paused, noticing her worried expression. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. She tried to reassure him. "The cat just startled me, that's all. Let's keep going before another one jumps out at us."

"As you wish, my little advisor." He chuckled. "For a moment, you looked as if you had seen a tiger." The two laughed at the absurdity and teased each other about their reactions to the potential danger.

They continued on their walk with new thoughts swirling in Mei Lien's head. She eventually convinced herself that it had just been a trick of the lantern light but for a brief moment when Tso Lan had turned, it looked as if his eyes had glowed an eerie red.

**********

Eventually, Mei Lien's older sister, Li Hua, finds out that she has been sneaking out after bedtime and returning to her bed right before sunrise. She confronts Mei Lien about it and is shocked to find out that her little sister has been meeting someone in their garden. She urges Mei Lien to tell their parents since she is naive to the risk of strangers due to her parents often coddling her and their younger sister when they were younger (Mei Lien may have book smarts but she doesn't get to meet new people very often or venture into the city so her street smarts are lacking).

Her parents ask about him just in case it really is someone her father knows and the young man is just looking for peace and quiet.

Mei Lien describes his appearance and the clothes that he wears but her father doesn't recognize the man. Her parents come to the conclusion that the person either truly is from the palace visiting the garden to get away from the drama of palace life or a demon in a human guise since he only comes out after dark and acts rather secretive at times.

Since Tso Lan has never made an attempt to harm her and they don't want to insult a potential member of the royal family or person of higher rank, they let her continue to see him.

They hope that he really is from the palace and that the relationship will lead to marriage and increase their social status.

Tso Lan belongs to people who aren't me.

Mei Lien belongs to me.

Description

It was a peaceful night as the couple walked hand in hand along the path surrounding the pond. Their shoes made gentle tapping sounds against the stone as Mei Lien looked up at the full moon above them.

"The moon is so beautiful and bright tonight." She said, watching the clouds drifting lazily across it. "I feel as if I could reach out and touch it."

A gentle laugh was her mysterious friend's reply. He was leading her towards the bridge where he claimed they would have a better view. "Perhaps, some day you will." He smiled at her with amusement. "If you wish hard enough."

"Don't tease." She smiled back.

It had been a few months since the night she had snuck out of her room to observe sailing stars and had met his unexpected presence standing by the pond in her family's garden. She knew that the garden was only permitted for the respite of those of higher status but he had no business being there at such a late hour and she had never seen him amongst the nobles who visited her father. Her desire to know who he was and what he was doing there had got the better of her wariness so she had approached him and a curious friendship had quickly formed between the two.

At first, she thought he was a servant of the palace since he wore such fine silk robes in beautifully rich colors and his long hair looked well-groomed. The longer she knew him though, made her suspect that he might actually be a member of the royal family. Who else but a royal would carry himself with such a regal air and have such vast knowledge. The thought of having secret meetings with an actual prince made her blush and squeeze his hand a little harder which made him glance down at her momentarily. Did she dare hope that this friendship would lead to something more. What would her sisters say if they knew?

She sighed wistfully. Her brother had always joked that she was a silly romantic at heart.

Sometimes, there would be gaps in his nightly visits, but that made sense since the palace was farther away than her family's mansion and he probably wouldn't be able to sneak out as often as he would like. Sometimes, he would confide in her how stressful his family could be so it didn't surprise her that he would leave the palace at the first opportunity to get a moment's peace and if he left at night he wouldn't be bothered by the public. But she didn't understand why he would travel without a body guard to protect-

A rustling in the bushes nearby startled her out of her thoughts. She could feel his hand tighten in hers as he turned his head sharply towards the sound. She stood nervously beside him as he studied the bushes for any signs of danger. His body tensing in preparation for a fight.

After a few tense moments, a stray cat jumped out of the bushes with a mouse held firmly in its jaws. It looked over at them cautiously then darted away.

Her companion relaxed with a sigh. "It was just a cat." He paused, noticing her worried expression. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. She tried to reassure him. "The cat just startled me, that's all. Let's keep going before another one jumps out at us."

"As you wish, my little advisor." He chuckled. "For a moment, you looked as if you had seen a tiger." The two laughed at the absurdity and teased each other about their reactions to the potential danger.

They continued on their walk with new thoughts swirling in Mei Lien's head. She eventually convinced herself that it had just been a trick of the lantern light but for a brief moment when Tso Lan had turned, it looked as if his eyes had glowed an eerie red.

**********

Eventually, Mei Lien's older sister, Li Hua, finds out that she has been sneaking out after bedtime and returning to her bed right before sunrise. She confronts Mei Lien about it and is shocked to find out that her little sister has been meeting someone in their garden. She urges Mei Lien to tell their parents since she is naive to the risk of strangers due to her parents often coddling her and their younger sister when they were younger (Mei Lien may have book smarts but she doesn't get to meet new people very often or venture into the city so her street smarts are lacking).

Her parents ask about him just in case it really is someone her father knows and the young man is just looking for peace and quiet.

Mei Lien describes his appearance and the clothes that he wears but her father doesn't recognize the man. Her parents come to the conclusion that the person either truly is from the palace visiting the garden to get away from the drama of palace life or a demon in a human guise since he only comes out after dark and acts rather secretive at times.

Since Tso Lan has never made an attempt to harm her and they don't want to insult a potential member of the royal family or person of higher rank, they let her continue to see him.

They hope that he really is from the palace and that the relationship will lead to marriage and increase their social status.

Tso Lan belongs to people who aren't me.

Mei Lien belongs to me.